SIMPLE TOMATO DISH

Tomatoes are sweet and juicy with high anti oxidant properties.They are high sources of  vitamin A and vitamin C, they clear urinary tract infections .They can be used in gravy or eaten as salad or used in sandwich.

I am giving below is a very easy recipe .This side dish goes well with Dosa /Idli /roti etc.

INGREDIENTS

Tomato 3 no.s
Onion 1 no.
Green chillies 2
Refined oil 2 tsp
Coriander leaves
Ginger 1 inch piece
Salt to taste

METHOD

Heat the oil in a kadai /pan and add finely cut onion and ginger. When the onion becomes slightly brown add the tomatoes. Cover it and cook on low heat till the tomatoes becomes soft and gravy becomes thick.

Add salt and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve it hot.

PANEER BUTTER MASALA

Cottage cheese is commonly referred as paneer in India. It is very popular, non melting , unsalted cheese and is used in many dishes.  Health benefits of paneer is they are high protein food, is easy to digest,is a good source of Calcium so good for our bones.

Tomatoes are sweet,juicy and delicious. They are fat free and low in calories and have vitamin C. I learnt this recipe from my mom.

Paneer butter masala is a very popular and delicious  Punjabi dish, paneer is cooked in thick tomato gravy.The recipe is very easy to prepare.

INGREDIENTS

Paneer /cottage cheese 100-150 gm

Onion 1 medium

Tomatoes 3-4 no.s

Bayleaf 1 no.

Garlic 5-6 cloves

Cinnamon 1 inch

Cardamom 2 no.

Cloves 2 no. 

Green chillies 2 slit

Garam masala powder 1 tsp

Cashew nuts 8-10 no.

Butter and oil/ ghee/ refined oil 1 tbsp

METHOD

Take a Pan/ kadai and heat  1/2 tbsp butter and oil/ ghee /oil and add onions and cloves and saute them till onion slightly changes colour, add the tomatoes and saute till tomatoes becomes soft.Add the cahew nuts and turn off the heat. Keep it aside to cool. Once it cools down grind it finely.

Take a Pan / kadai add 1/2 tbsp and heat butter and oil/ ghee/ oil  add bay leaf, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and saute for a minute . On low heat add the ground paste and green chillies and cover it and cook  for 8 to 10 minutes occasionally stirring them. Add salt. If the gravy is too thick add water and cook on slow fire. 

Add the paneer cubes and gram masala into the gravy and cook for 5 minutes more. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with naan/ roti/ jeera rice.

Note. If you want it spicy can add chilli powder , and for taste 1 tbsp of fresh cream can be added.

EASY TOMATO SOUP

Tomatoes are sweet, juicy and delicious. They are fat free, low in calories and and have Vitamin C. Garlic has antiviral, anti-fungal ,antioxidant  and antibacterial properties. Celery is a rich source of antioxidants,It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C,Vitamin K and potassium. It lowers blood pressure and prevents cancer.

Tomato soup is a very popular soup in India. It is easy to prepare and very delicious soup.There are lot of versions of tomato soup but this soup is my version. While making tomato soup use fresh red ripe and sweet tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS
Tomatoes 4 big no.s
Garlic 6 cloves
Sugar 1 tsp
Celery 1 stalk
Pepper 2 tsp freshly crushed
cornflour 1 tbsp
Salt to taste











METHOD

Heat a pan with 2 cups of water, when it boils add the ripe sweet tomatoes, garlic and celery stalk. Turn off the fire. Keep it aside for 15 minutes.

When it cools down take out the blanched tomatoes and peel them. Do not throw the water keep it aside. Put the tomatoes garlic and celery  in a blender and blend them to a smooth pulp. Add the water to the pulp and run it through a strainer. Keep some 2 tbsp water aside to add to 1 tbsp cornflour.

Heat a deep pan add the strained pulp and bring it to boil,add salt,sugar and pepper. Add the cornflour to the pan and boil it for 3 - 4 minutes. Switch off the fire.

Serve hot with bread croutons.

TOMATO RICE

Tomatoes are sweet, juicy and delicious. They are fat free, low in calories and and have Vitamin C. They protect the body from variety of cancers. Fresh tomatoes help to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Garlic has antiviral, anti-fungal, antioxidant  and antibacterial properties.

Tomato rice or thakkali (tomato) sadam(rice in Tamil) is a easy recipe to make. If you have time constraint you can prepare this dish with left over rice and serve with raita,/pickle/pappad. This dish can be taken for lunch and makes great tiffin box.

INGREDIENTS

Tomato                                     3
Onion                                         1
Green gram sprouts             3/4 tea cup
Garlic                                         3-4
Ginger                                        1 inch piece
Turmeric powder                 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida                                1 tsp
Green chillies                          2-3 OR
Chilli powder                          1-2 tsp
Cumin powder                       1 tsp
Cooked rice                             2 tea cup
Refined oil/ olive oil           2 tsp
Salt to taste

METHOD  

Heat oil in a large kadai/skillet add the onions and garlic - ginger paste. Saute till raw smell of garlic disappears.Add turmeric powder and asafoetida, saute for a second.

Blend the tomatoes in a blender and add it to the onions. Cook on medium flame till the tomatoes reduces to a thick consistency. Stir occasionally.

Add the cooked rice and the sprouts, nicely mix the rice with the tomatoes. Season with salt,cumin powder and chilli powder/green chilles.

Serve hot with any accompaniment of your choice.

TOMATO RICE

Tomatoes are sweet, juicy and delicious. They are fat free, low in calories and and have Vitamin C. They protect the body from variety of cancers. Fresh tomatoes help to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Garlic has antiviral, anti-fungal, antioxidant  and antibacterial properties.

Tomato rice or thakkali (tomato) sadam(rice in Tamil) is a easy recipe to make. If you have time constraint you can prepare this dish with left over rice and serve with raita,/pickle/pappad. This dish can be taken for lunch and makes great tiffin box.

INGREDIENTS

Tomato                                     3
Onion                                         1
Green gram sprouts             3/4 tea cup
Garlic                                         3-4
Ginger                                        1 inch piece
Turmeric powder                 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida                                1 tsp
Green chillies                          2-3 OR
Chilli powder                          1-2 tsp
Cumin powder                       1 tsp
Cooked rice                             2 tea cup
Refined oil/ olive oil           2 tsp
Salt to taste

METHOD  

Heat oil in a large kadai/skillet add the onions and garlic - ginger paste. Saute till raw smell of garlic disappears.Add turmeric powder and asafoetida, saute for a second.

Blend the tomatoes in a blender and add it to the onions. Cook on medium flame till the tomatoes reduces to a thick consistency. Stir occasionally.

Add the cooked rice and the sprouts, nicely mix the rice with the tomatoes. Season with salt,cumin powder and chilli powder/green chilles.

Serve hot with any accompaniment of your choice.

PASTA IN TOMATO SAUCE

Pasta is a very simple Italian dish which comes in different shapes and sizes. Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine. I am preparing a simple pasta dish in tomato sauce in Indianised way without cheese.

INGREDIENTS

Pasta 1cup boiled with salt
Tomato pureed 4
tomato ketchup 1 tbsp
Garlic 6 cloves
salt
Onion 1 medium
Peas 1/4 cup
Olive oil 1tbsp
oregano 2 pinch

 METHOD

Take a pan on medium heat put 1 tbsp olive oil ,add garlic and saute for a minute and then add the onions saute till it turns transparent. Add the peas.

Add the tomatoes and stir it till the raw smell of the tomatoes disappear. Add 1 tbsp tomato ketchup , salt ( as salt is already added in boiled pasta )and oregano.
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Add the Pasta and stir everything together till the sauce and the pasta blends together.